Patents Examined by Thor S. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11800601
    Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes an infrared sensor configured to measure infrared radiation emitted by at least a portion of a heating element coupled to a dispensing interface in the cartridge. The field of view of the infrared sensor may encompass an entirety of the heating element. The infrared sensor may be an infrared light emitting diode. The e-vaping device may include control circuitry configured to determine the temperature of the heating element based on sensor data generated by the infrared sensor and control the electrical power supplied to the cartridge based on the temperature of the heating element. The control circuitry may control the electrical power to maintain the temperature of the heating element below a threshold temperature. The control circuitry may determine the heating element temperature based on accessing at least a portion of the sensor data stored at a storage device in the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Ed Cadieux, Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 11785989
    Abstract: A vaporizer assembly for an e-vaping device includes a heater coil structure, a set of electrical lead structures coupled to opposite ends of the heater coil structure, and a non-conductive connector structure connected to each of the electrical lead structures, such that the electrical lead structures are coupled together independently of the heater coil structure. The vaporizer assembly may contact a dispensing interface structure through the heater coil structure. The vaporizer assembly may heat pre-vapor formulation drawn from a reservoir by the dispensing interface. The heater coil structure may define a surface, and the vaporizer assembly may apply a mechanical force to the dispensing interface structure, such that the heater coil structure is in compression with the dispensing interface structure and the heater coil structure surface is substantially flush with a surface of the dispensing interface structure. The heater coil structure may define a three-dimensional surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Ali A. Rostami
  • Patent number: 11785990
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an input for production of atomizers and atomizers formed from a sheet of a material, and which may be employed in an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The input may include a carrier and heating elements coupled thereto. The heating elements may include first and second ends and interconnected alternating loops disposed therebetween. The heating elements may be oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier, or perpendicular thereto. The heating elements may be coupled to a liquid transport element by bending the interconnected loops at least partially around the liquid transport element. The ends of the heating element may be coupled to heater terminals. A related method for forming atomizers is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John DePiano, David Smith, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Frank S. Silveira, Michael Laine, Robert Alden Metcalfe, John William Wolber
  • Patent number: 11779054
    Abstract: A ground plane is provided, including: a monolithic elongated conductive member, a first portion of the monolithic elongated conductive member forming a cavity configured to receive a power supply, a plurality of second portions of the monolithic elongated conductive member respectively forming resilient elements extending over the cavity and configured to retain the power supply within the cavity, and a plurality of third portions of the monolithic elongated conductive member respectively forming parallel pins configured to receive an electronic circuit board. An electrically operated aerosol generating device including the ground plane, a method of forming a ground plane, and a method of forming an electrically operated aerosol generating device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Dominique Bernauer, Felix Fernando
  • Patent number: 11781784
    Abstract: A heater system includes a heater bundle having a plurality of heater assemblies and a plurality of power conductors. More than one of the heater assemblies includes a plurality of heater units, and more than one of the heater units defines at least one independently controlled heating zone. The plurality of power conductors are electrically connected to the independently controlled heating zones. The heater system further includes means for determining temperature, and a power supply device including a controller configured to modulate power to the independently controlled heating zones through the power conductors based on the determined temperature to provide a desired power output along a length of more than one of the heater assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Everly, Louis Steinhauser, Scott Boehmer
  • Patent number: 11779055
    Abstract: A base for an e-vaping device is configured to couple with multiple cartridges configured to generate separate, respective dispersions. The cartridges may include one or more atomizer assemblies or vaporizer assemblies. The base may include multiple connectors electrically coupled to the power supply. The connectors may be configured to couple multiple dispersion generators to a power supply of the base. The base may include control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by dispersion generators coupled to the base. The control circuitry may independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on cartridge information accessed through at least one of the first and second connectors. The control circuitry may control dispersion generation by controlling power supplied to the dispersion generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Ali A. Rostami, Gerd Kobal, Yezdi Pithawalla, David Kane, Christopher S. Tucker, Peter Lipowicz, Jason Flora, Georgios Karles, Munmaya K. Mishra, Catherine Barnes, Richard Arena
  • Patent number: 11778696
    Abstract: A vaporizer assembly includes a tube having a first end with an inlet opening and a second end with an outlet opening. The vaporizer assembly also includes a heater element configured to vaporize liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The heater element is at the second end of the tube. The first end of the tube is fluidly connectable with a liquid storage portion. When the first end of the tube is fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can flow from the liquid storage portion through the inlet opening into the tube. The outlet opening of the tube includes perforations having a width ranging from about 1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Fabien Duc
  • Patent number: 11764072
    Abstract: A method for processing a workpiece is provided. The method can include placing a workpiece on a susceptor disposed within a processing chamber. The method can include performing a multi-cycle thermal treatment process on the workpiece in the processing chamber. The multi-cycle thermal treatment process can include at least two thermal cycles. Each thermal cycle of the at least two thermal cycles can include performing a first treatment on the workpiece at a first temperature; heating a device side surface of the workpiece to a second temperature in less than one second; performing a second treatment on the workpiece at approximately the second temperature; and cooling the workpiece subsequent to performing the second treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology, Co., LTD, Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Shawming Ma
  • Patent number: 11758621
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for ohmic heating of a fluid which includes at least one chamber for receiving the fluid and at least two units each including at least one electrode. Each of the at least one electrode is associated to at least one device for galvanic separation. The electrodes of each of the two units are disposed in the chamber at a distance apart from one another and the device for galvanic separation is disposed outside of the chamber. The system also includes at least one frequency inverter that is electrically connected to the at least two electrode-units for operating the at least two electrode-units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: InstaHeat AG
    Inventors: Fabian Dietschi, Alexei Gromov
  • Patent number: 11747042
    Abstract: A heating system of a managed fluid system can include a heat exchanger and a first temperature sensor device that measures an inlet temperature of a fluid flowing into the heat exchanger. The heating system can also include a second temperature sensor device that measures an outlet temperature of the fluid flowing out of the heat exchanger. The heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor device and the second temperature sensor device. The controller can receive inlet temperature measurements made by the first temperature sensor device and outlet temperature measurements made by the second temperature sensor device. The controller can also evaluate the inlet temperature measurements and the outlet temperature measurements using at least one lookup table and at least one algorithm. The controller can subsequently determine an input rate of fuel used to heat the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Montanez, Jorge Miguel Gamboa
  • Patent number: 11730900
    Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating device includes a storage portion configured to contain an aerosol-forming substrate and having a fluid permeable internal surface surrounding an open-ended passage extending through the cartridge. The device includes a housing having a cavity for receiving the cartridge, and a heater assembly positioned in the cavity. The heater assembly includes an elongate support member connected to the housing and arranged to extend into the open-ended passage of a cartridge inserted in the cavity. The heater assembly also includes a plurality of electric heaters fixed to and spaced along the length of the elongate support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Laurent Manca
  • Patent number: 11723410
    Abstract: An electronic vaporizer includes a main unit, an atomizer and a mouthpiece. The atomizer is removably coupled to the main unit. The mouthpiece is removably coupled to the atomizer. The atomizer includes an atomizer base, a heating electrode coupled to the atomizer base, a temperature sensing electrode coupled to the atomizer base, a heating element electrically coupled to the heating electrode and the temperature sensing electrode, and a heating crucible thermally coupled to the heating element. The heating element includes a heating element base, a heating circuit encapsulated within the heating element base and a temperature sensing circuit encapsulated within the heating element base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Dr. Dabber Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie Michael Rosen, Christopher Martin Ortega, Pantelis Costas Ataliotis
  • Patent number: 11712098
    Abstract: A heater including a ceramic heater element and ceramic heat sink whereby the ceramic heater element and the ceramic heat sink are both formed from a plurality of layers of tape cast ceramic material. The ceramic heater element may be generally planar and extends within a first plane. The ceramic heat sink may extend in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane. The ceramic heat sink may include a plurality of fins which may be discrete. The layers of the ceramic heater element may be orientated orthogonal to the layers of the ceramic heat sink. The ceramic heater element may comprise a conductive track which may be surface mounted to a distal side of the ceramic heater element than the ceramic heat sink or embedded within the ceramic heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Ilidio Silvestre Guerreiro, Samuel William Saunders, Edward Sebert Maurice Shelton, Lolan Naicker, Kyle James Crawford
  • Patent number: 11712945
    Abstract: An electric heater includes a heating element, a heat transfer wall and a control module. The electric heater includes a fluid chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The fluid chamber is in communication with the inlet and the outlet, the heat transfer wall is a portion of a wall part forming the fluid chamber, the heating element is fixed or limited to at least a portion of the heat transfer wall, the heating element is located outside the fluid chamber, and at least a portion of the heating element is in contact with the heat transfer wall. The electric heater includes a cover body wall, which is another portion of the wall part forming the fluid chamber. The control module is located outside the cover body wall, the control module is located outside the fluid chamber, the control module is electrically connected to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hangzhou Sanhua Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Saijun Ding, Weidong Xi
  • Patent number: 11710628
    Abstract: An infrared light radiation device includes a radiation unit and a condenser. The radiation unit includes a heater and a metamaterial structure. The metamaterial structure is able to radiate, when heat energy is input from the heater, infrared light having a peak wavelength of a non-Planck distribution. The condenser includes at least one condensing lens that concentrates and transmits toward outside the infrared light radiated from the radiation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Kato, Yoshio Kondo
  • Patent number: 11703895
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring hot water supply in a load control network, and more particularly for ensuring that there is sufficient hot water available for a customer participating in a demand response program that uses, at least in part, water heaters as a component of the demand response program. A multi-meter that is external to the water heater is used to monitor an electrical power supply circuit on the water heater, to report preferably volts, amps, and power factor of the water heater. The multi-meter may use these measured values to, in turn, determine a current charge state of the water heater and thus ensure maintenance of an adequate supply of hot water, even in times of demand response curtailment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MOSAIC POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Vaudreuil, Vasiliy Mironenko
  • Patent number: 11702043
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for a washer fluid according to an embodiment includes a container having an accommodation space in which a washer fluid is accommodated, an inlet part configured to charge the washer fluid into the accommodation space, an outlet part configured to discharge the washer fluid from the accommodation space, a heater provided in the accommodation space, the heater being configured to heat the washer fluid, and coils wound around the heater. The coils are in a spiral shape extending about the axis of the coils and are formed of wires in contact with the heater. The coils have close contact parts at which a plurality of wires is in close contact to each other in an extending direction of an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoga Miki, Akira Fukai, Noriaki Masuda, Toshihiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11700889
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a heating element including a plurality of wires that are twisted together; and a capillary body, the capillary body being wound around the heating element. A method of manufacturing an aerosol-generating device is also provided, including providing a capillary body; twisting a plurality of wires together to form a heating element; and winding the capillary body around the heating element. The aerosol-generating system is advantageous in that the manufacturing process can be a fast and robust. The heater can be formed with high precision and consistency. Further, the heater and wick assembly are mechanically robust, allowing manual or automatic handling without affecting its dimensions. This allows for a consistent quality of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Frederic Buehler, Rui Batista
  • Patent number: 11700951
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to selectively create a heat transfer effect and sensation of cooling within bedding on a mattress. A programmable application is accessible on a wireless network and is programmed to provide appropriate settings to attain changes over time of a space within bedding that pertain to at least one of heating the space and realizing a cooling sensation within the space. A wireless receiver is configured to receive commands in a wireless manner that are indicative of the appropriate settings provided by the programmable application to effect changes over time of the space within the bedding attributed to heat transfer with respect to the at least one of heating the space and realizing a cooling sensation within the space. The heat transfer occurs as a result of fluid flow either within a mattress or within space in bedding over the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BedJet LLC
    Inventor: Mark Darius Aramli
  • Patent number: 11684730
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a cartridge, a vaporiser section configured to receive the cartridge, and a power supply section configured to supply electrical power to the vaporiser section. The cartridge may include a cartridge housing containing a solid aerosol-forming substrate and defining a cartridge air inlet that extends through a wall portion of the cartridge housing. The vaporiser section may include a vaporiser housing containing an electric heater and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining a vaporiser air outlet that extends through a wall portion of the vaporiser housing. The cartridge wall portion is configured to abut the vaporiser wall portion when the cartridge is received within the vaporiser section. The cartridge configured to be rotatable with respect to the vaporiser section to vary the amount of overlap between the cartridge air inlet and the vaporiser air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell